Unit: Authentic Learning and Creativity - How can students use the Internet to foster creativity and real-world problem solving?

Authentic Learning and Creativity: Grades 9-12

Managing Project Teams - Overview

Students use a checklist to learn to manage collaborative teams and select digital tools to support collaborative authentic learning projects. Use as a stand-alone lesson or in preparation for team project assignments.

Download Student Activity Sheet(s) in PDF format.
Read a Letter to Educators about authentic learning and creativity from CyberSmart!

Learning Targets

I can discuss guidelines that help insure successful project-team management.
I can research and evaluate Web 2.0 services and applications to support project-team management.

Advance Preparation

Read a summary of Web 2.0 tools. You may find it convenient to download for your own reference the FREE CyberSmart! Educator Toolbar for direct links to more than 90 individual Web 2.0 tools categorized by function.

Site Preview

You may wish to preview the following Web 2.0 sites and have students do their own online research to locate other useful sites. Check your school's Acceptable Use Policy to determine if using these sites with students is approved.

Optional strategies for using Web 2.0 tools with your students are recommended throughout this lesson plan.

Materials

Student Sheet

Introduce (online/offline)

If you are about to start your students on a team project, discuss the scope and goals of the project so that the rest of the lesson will have a context.
If you are not introducing a specific project, take students to (or describe) The 48 Hour Film Project, showing them an extreme example of the work of project teams. On a Friday night, each team is assigned a genre, a character, one prop, and one line of dialogue. From these pieces, participants have a 48-hour weekend to write, cast, film, edit, and create sound effects and music for a movie up to seven minutes long. Note: This project is used as an example to explain the importance of good management of project teams. CyberSmart! is not responsible for the content of the films that can be downloaded from the site.

Teach 1 (offline)

Put the students into project teams of three to four students and distribute the student sheet.
Divide the 11 items on the checklist among the teams. Give the teams enough time to discuss each item, develop specific examples, and elaborate on the tips.
Allow each team to make a brief presentation to the rest of the class.

Teach 2 (online)

Have teams go online to research and identify Web 2.0 services and applications suitable for each item on the checklist. If you want to provide students with links to Web 2.0 sites, have them go online to www.becybersmart.org or www.cybersmartcurriculum.org, click on STUDENT LINKS, and then click on the star. Alternatively, you can have students use a search engine and keywords to find useful sites. Student recommendations may vary from the sample answers below.

Checklist	Tools
Build a diverse team.	Social networking sites, such as Elgg, NIng, Multiply, MySpace, and Facebook
Introduce and orient team members.	Social networking sites, such as Elgg, NIng, Multiply, MySpace, and Facebook
Conduct team meetings.	Web meeting services such as Dim Dim or Mikigo Screen Sharing, or Zoho Meeting
State goals and outcomes.	Wikis such as Wispace or Zoho Writer, Google Docs
Define roles.	Services that allow member-only groups where team discussions can take place, such as Elgg, Google Groups, Facebook Groups, or Yahoo Groups
Assign tasks.	Zoho Projects
Schedule the work: use a timeline and checklist.	Zoho Projects
Keep the team's work in a central place.	Google Docs, OpenOffice, Yahoo Groups, Zoho Notebook
Plan what to do if the project gets off course or there is conflict.	Services that allow member-only groups where team discussions can take place, such as Elgg, Google Groups, Facebook Groups, or Yahoo Groups
Have a method to reach group decisions.	Services that allow member-only groups where team discussions can take place, such as Elgg, Google Groups, Facebook Groups, or Yahoo Groups
Show appreciation for good work.	Social networking sites, such as Elgg, NIng, MySpace, and Facebook

Consider having students use social bookmarking and other Web 2.0 tools to facilitate sharing of Web 2.0 resources.

Teach 3 (offline)

Have the teams compare their findings and reach consensus on the best tools for each item in the checklist.

Assess

The following items assess student proficiency and learning targets.

Ask: How would you rank the 11 items on the checklist in terms of importance to the success of a team project? Which would be your top three items? Explain.
Ask: Which of the Web tools or applications most intrigued you? Explain.

Extend with Epals for Global Connections

Join a global collaborative project where you can find classrooms around the world interested in having students collaborate on authentic projects such as the ePals Digital Storytelling Classroom Project which references student-made digital stories from Cybersmart!'s Africa Digital Storytelling Project.

Lesson 11. Managing Project Teams